Pictures of Crazy Water Insect found in Sedona, AZ

A few months ago, I spent a weekend in Sedona, Arizona and went on a few nature hikes. While walking barefoot through a shallow stream, I came across an interesting creature which I nearly but thankfully did not step on. The first few obscure images of this thing show it in its natural habitat:





I grabbed a nearby stick and managed to remove the creature from the water without harming or killing it. Once it was out of the water, I was set back on my heels a bit when I realized how fast and aggressive this thing was. It was not at all happy about being disturbed and would have eaten me and my stick had it been big enough. After a few minutes of tiring the creature out with my stick so that it would hold still, I snapped some more pictures of it:











The amazing thing about this insect was its swimming ability and style which I regretfully could not capture with a picture. The creature would instantly flap or fold its body from an elongated posture into a tight U shape, and then repeat this maneuver to propel itself forward, or backwards really. It also had furry sections on the underside of its belly, which I assume facilitate its swimming ability.

If anyone can identify this creature, I would really appreciate it as I'm very curious to learn more about it!

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Whoa, right of out jurassic park right there. Do you know what it is?

man you should have used that thing as bait.

Country said:

man you should have used that thing as bait.

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:lol: hook dat mutha ****er!!

Whoa. No idea what the hell that is. How big was it? Hard to tell by the pics. From your description, sounds like it moves itself through the water similar to a crayfish. Weird lookin fugger.

how would you like to wake up late at night with that on your pillow?

That looks like what Kahn put in Mr. Suloo's ear!!!

looks kind of like a Caddisfly larva or a diving beetle larva

Some kind of Megaloptera

Country said:

man you should have used that thing as bait.

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And have it eat the fish before you land it? No thanks! :rolling:

looks like a hellgrammite

Go to Whatsthatbug.com and ask.

Dude is very informative and I have asked him about the "Brown Recluse" thread.

Edit: Astrodude called it.

astrodudepsu said:

looks like a hellgrammite

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I believe that's it!
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/hell.html

On that site they say it's harmless, yeah that's relief if you happen to have this bug crawling up your leg.

PimpRohr said:

Whoa, right of out jurassic park right there. Do you know what it is?

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I Do, That Thing Is GROSS!!!!

CHICKS75 said:

Go to Whatsthatbug.com and ask.

Dude is very informative and I have asked him about the "Brown Recluse" thread.

Edit: Astrodude called it.

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4fit? said:

I believe that's it!
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/hell.html

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Go figure, growing up in the sticks of PA proved usefull.

We catch them like crayfish and use them for bait. Walleye LOVE hellgrammites

deffinately a hellgrammite. I used to use them as bait for fishing. They can give you a mean pinch.

4fit? said:

How big was it?

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It was about two inches long.

astrodudepsu said:

looks like a hellgrammite

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Thanks for identifying this creature!

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astrodudepsu said:

Go figure, growing up in the sticks of PA proved usefull.

We catch them like crayfish and use them for bait. Walleye LOVE hellgrammites

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so do brook trout!

eww